(605)-340-1340
About
Experienced Excellence
Eric Schlimgen, a Black Hills native has been practicing since 2016 with measurable success. He prides himself on a deep tradition of excellence, ensuring only the highest quality service. Eric understands the challenges and pressure that comes with every case and is here for you, every step of the way.
Dependable, calm, and well spoken, Eric approaches each new case with the attention it needs. Get in touch with him today.
Education
University of South Dakota School of Law, Vermillion, South Dakota
Juris Doctor – 2016
Honors: Moot Court
Lewis and Clark Law School, Portland, Oregon
Juris Doctor – 2014
Major: Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resource Law
University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota
Masters of Public Administration magna cum laude – 2016
University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota
Bachelors of Criminal Justice & Political Science – 2013
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
B.A. – 2012
Honors: Spanish language immersion program in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Bar Admissions
U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota, 2017
Wyoming, 2017
South Dakota, 2016
Honors & Awards
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated/Client Champion Platinum, 2024, 2025
National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Nationally Ranked Top 10 Under 40, 2025
South Dakota State Bar Association, Young Lawyer of the Year, 2023
Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion Platinum/Peer Rated for High Professional Achievement, 2023
Martindale- Hubbell Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, 2022
Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished Peer Rated for High Professional Achievement, 2020
The National Trial Lawyers 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense, 2020, 2019, 2022
University of South Dakota 30 Under 30 Class of 2019
South Dakota State Bar & Access to Justice Pro Bono Service Award, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Costello Porter Annual Trust & Wills/Estate Planning Essay Winner, 2015
University of South Dakota Omicron Delta Kappa, Circle President, 2013
University of South Dakota Outstanding Student Leader Award from South Dakota Board of Regents, 2013
University of South Dakota Criminal Justice Faculty Appreciation Award, 2013
Oneta H. Card Government Cooperation Scholarship, 2012
University of South Dakota Mock Trial Advocate Award, 2012
Mary B. Elden Internship Award, 2010
Who’s Who Amongst American Colleges and Universities Distinction, 2013
Appeals ***all appeals are hyperlinked to opinions.
Matter of Estate of Ager, 2024 S.D. 55, 11 N.W.3d 878 (Audio of Oral Argument) (Following denial of motion by wife, who was a beneficiary of husband's estate, to remove husband's daughter as personal representative of the estate, which occurred during period in which administration of the estate was unsupervised, wife filed petition for supervised administration of the estate. Shortly thereafter, daughter filed a motion for confirmation of a specific devise relating to proceeds of a sale of storage units husband had owned and sold prior to his death. The trial court entered an order granting wife's motion for supervised administration and, approximately two months later, denied daughter's motion for confirmation of the specific devise. Daughter filed a notice of appeal, and wife filed a notice of review seeking review of the decision denying her motion to remove daughter as personal representative.)
​Estate of Ager, #30501,#30604, Dismissed (Strawn)
​Ager v. Coyle, 10 N.W.3d 827 (S.D. 2024)
​State v. LaPointe, #30658, 9-30-2024 Affirmed (Day)
​State v. Tisher, #30337, 10-10-2023 Affirmed (Krull)
​State v. See, #30325, 10-10-2023 Affirmed (Day)
​State v. Babcock, 2020 S.D. 71, 952 N.W.2d 750 (Defendant was convicted in the Circuit Court, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Butte County, Michael W. Day, J., of two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of simple assault for attacking his former significant other during a fight. Defendant appealed.)
​Goin v. Houdashelt, 2020 S.D. 32, 945 N.W.2d 349 (Former employee of kombucha bar brought a small claims court unpaid wages action, which was removed. After a bench trial, the Circuit Court, Circuit Court, Seventh Judicial Circuit, Pennington County, Jane W. Pfeifle, J., ruled in favor of employee on merits but denied her request for attorney fees under removal statute. Employee appealed.)
​State v. Overstreet, #29268, 11-23-2020 Affirmed (Day)
​State v. Davis, #29243, 8-31-2020 Affirmed (Day)
​State v. Piekkola, #29049 and #29050, 12-13-2019 Affirmed (Day)
Seminars & Publications
Pennington County Defense Bar Monthly Lecturer, 2019: The Pennington County Defense Bar is a collection of attorneys who meet for the purpose of advancing the practice of Criminal Defense. I spoke on the topic of the discrepancies of South Dakota's Marijuana Statutes related to my Law Review Article.
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Pennington County Public Defender's Office Monthly Lecturer, 2019: The Pennington County Public Defender's Officer has a monthly lecture series on developments in the area of Criminal Defense. I was the speaker regarding the defense of marijuana cases, specifically regarding the discrepancies in South Dakota's current statutes as two definitions of marijuana apply--choosing the right definition is the difference between a felony and misdemeanor.
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"What's in a Name Anyway?": Reevaluating South Dakota's Cannabis Statutory Scheme, South Dakota Law Review, Volume 63 Issue I, 2018. The South Dakota Legislature enacted laws in an effort to regulate cannabis. However, the laws in place are outdated in comparison to the advances in the cannabis industry. Currently, several of South Dakota's statutes are conflicting and vague. Due to the language of the existing laws, legislative intent and the practical effect are juxtaposed; for example, individuals with high level tetrahydrocannabinol ("THC') in 'flowering" or natural form cannabis are charged with a misdemeanor, while individuals with low level THC in an extract are charged with a felony. Essentially, the law no longer effectuates the purpose of protecting against high levels of THC, resulting in arduous consequences for the judicial system.
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Take Back the Night Foundation, 2017: Panelist on forum for dating and domestic violence at Black Hills State University.
Professional Associations & Pro Bono Activities
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Black Hills Mountain Bike Association, Vice-President, 2018 – 2020
Pennington County State Bar, Member, 2017 – Present
West Boulevard Neighborhood Association, Member, 2017 – 2020
Volunteer Judge for Pennington County Teen Court, 2017 – 2019
Volunteer Judge for Lawrence County Teen Court, 2016 – 2017
Rapid City Arts Council, Board Member, 2017 – Present
Rapid City Arts Council Emerging Artists, Member, 2017 – 2018
Rapid City Chamber Young Professional Program, Member, 2016 – Present
South Dakota Commission For National and Community Service, Governor Appointed Commissioner, 2011 – 2015
Volunteer Ask-A-Lawyer State Bar of South Dakota Program, 2018 – Present
Volunteer for Unified Judicial System Access To Justice, 2018 – Present
Pennington County Teen Court Program, Judge, 2017 – Present
Cheisman Center for Democracy, Mock Congressional Hearing Judge, 2017
Lawrence County Teen Court Program, Judge, 2016 – 2017
Black Hills State University Student Diversion Program, Facilitator, 2016 – 2017
South Dakota High School Athletic Association Oral Interpretation & Debate Tournament, Judge, 2016
Miss South Dakota’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, Judge, 2016
Previous Employment
Clayborne, Loos & Sabers, Associate, 2017 - 2020
Fourth Judicial Circuit, Law Clerk, 2016 – 2017
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